Movable figure toy



Aug. 13, 1963 J. STALDER MOVABLE FIGURE TOY Filed Aug. 8. 1961 will . Will/I1.

R m m 4 M r a a o 4 M 5 5 q b. o g .M w J q H/u m m D 6 4 Hr- 1.x 2 U ATTORNEYS MOVABLE FIGURE TOY Jakob Stalder, Bergstrasse 110, Geroldswil, Switzerland Filed Aug. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 130,132 8 (Ilaims. (Cl. 46-440) My present invention rel-ates to a figure capable of carrying out rotary movements, which figure does not require any motor drive means for operation.

Such figure according to the present invention is distinguished by the fact that a fulcrum pin of a figure body through a transmission gearing is connected to the fulcrum member of a swing body, said pin, member and gearing being disposed in a carrier housing.

The figure thus driven automatically, which carries out rotary movements at each change of position or at each occurrence of inertia forces acting thereon, is particularly suited in vehicles such as automobiles. In such latter case, the figure is bound to rotate at any variations of position or inclination of the vehicle.

Forms of the invention are shown in the drawing, in which- FIG. 1 is a view of the figure in section through the housing base,

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two further forms of the invention in perspective view, 7

FIG. 4 is a modification of-FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 depicts a playing figure adapted to be secured to a vertical support,

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two difierent suspended playing figures, and

FIG. 8 shows a further form of the gearing.

A figure body 1 carrying out playing and rotary movements by means of a plug-leg 2 is detachably plugged on the square end 3a of a fulcrum pin 3. 4 designates the boflike base housing. In the bore 6 of the housing cover 4a and on the bearing bracket 5 secured thereto, is mounted for rotation the fulcrum pin 3. The square member 31: projects upwardly from base housing 4. Spaced from fulcrum pin 3 and parallel thereto a further fulcrum member 7 is mounted for rotation, its upper end being engaged in housing cover 4a and its lower end being engaged in the housing bottom 412. A swing body 8 at one end is rigidly attached to fulcrum member 7. A pinion 9 fixed to fulcrum pin 3 meshes with a gear wheel 10 fixed to fulcrum member 7. Transmission of the rotary movement of fulcrum member 7 on to fulcrum pin 3 is chosen at such ratio that figure body 1 executes an entire revolution with a relatively small movement of body 8 or fulcrum member 7 respectively.

Swing body 8 moves from its horizontal position at each deviation and also at each positional or inclination-a1 change of base housing 4, and tends to always move towards the lowermost point with its cantilever portion. When carrying the figure in a vehicle such as an automobile, rail-, airor water vehicle, the swing body 8 and, thus, the figure 1 is set into motion also in the case of horizontally acting centrifugal forces such as act in the vehicle in particular in curves, further at all inclination changes and shocks.

The figure bases used in FIGS. 1 to 3 may be placed on any desired horizontal support and thanks to the weight of the base do not require any special locking means.

In FIG. 4 is shown a form of invention in which the weight of the swing body increases in an outward direction, which form is specially suited for producing a relatively high centrifugal or swing force, and which form reacts in a very sensitive way and manner.

When no horizontal support is available, as is often the case, a base housing 4 may be used which by means 3,lfi 0,3-65 Patented Aug. 13, 1963 ice of a suction cup 11 is attachable to a window pane S or other carrier, as shown in FIG. 5. Suction cup 11 is disposed on base housing 4 by means of a L-shaped holder 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, the base housing 4 by means of wires or strings 13' is suspended from a plate 14 secured to the vehicle roof D. FIG. 7 finally shows a form in which figure body .1 in form of a globe is disposed on base housing 4 hanging on a wire 15. In this form, base housing 4 is provided with securing flanges 16 by which it issecured to the ceiling D.

As shown in FIG. 8, a V-belt drive mechanism 9', 10",

16 maybe used in place of the gearing 9, 10. The central fulcrum member 7 'here carries the large V-groove wheel 10 and the flywheel mass 8, while the small V-groove wheel 9' is secured to fulcrum pin 3. V

I Further, various mutually exchangeable figures may be provided with uniform plug legs.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A toy comprising a housing, a fulcrum pin journaled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to the fulcrum pin exteriorly of the housing, a fulcrum member journaled in the housing, and a swing body secured to the fulcrum member within the housing, transmission gearing interconnecting the fulcrum pin and fulcrum member, said swing body being movable in a substantially horizontal plane and a constituting the sole power source for operating the transmission gearing and being overbalanced to seek a low level for the rotation of the fulcrum pin and figure body in either direction.

2. A toy comprising a housing, a fulcrum pin journaled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to the fulcrum pin exteriorly of the housing, a fulcrum member journaled in the housing, and a swing body secured to the fulcrum member within the housing, a belt drive between the fulcrum pin and fulcrum member, said swing body being movable in a substantially horizontal plane and constituting the sole power source for operating the fulcrum pin and figure body and being overbalanced to seek a low level for the rotation of the fulcrum pin and figure body'in either direction. 1

3. A toy comprising a housing, a fulcrum pin journaled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to the fulcrum pin exteriorly of the housing, a fulcrum member journaled in the housing, and a swing body secured to the fulcrum member within the housing, transmission gearing interconnecting the fulcrum pin and fulcrum member, said swing body being movable in a substantially horizontal plane and constituting the sole power swing body being movable in a substantially horizontal plane and constituting the sole power source for operating the fulcrum pin and figure body and being overbalanced to seek a low level for the rotation of the fulcrum pin and figure body in either direction, and a substantially vertical side wall mounting for the housing;

5. A toy comprising a housing, a fulcrum pin journaled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to .the fulcrum pin exteriorlyof the housing, a fulcrum member journaled in the housing, and a swing body secured to the fulcrum member within the housing, transmission gearing interconnecting the fulcrum pin and fulcrum member, said swing body being movable in a substantially horizontal plane and constituting the sole power 7 source for operatingthe transmission gearingand being overbalanced to seek a low level for the rotation of the fulcrum pin'and figure body ineither direction, said hous-' ing being suspended from its upper side and the figure body depending from the housing.

6. A toy comprising a housing, a fulcrum pin journaled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to the. fulcrum pin exteriorlyof the housing, a fulcrum member journaled in the housing, and a swing body secured to vthe fulcrum member within the housing, a belt drive between the fulcrum pin and fulcrum member, said swing'body being movable in a substantially horizontal plane and constituting the sole power source for operating the fulcrum pin and figure body and being overbalneed to seek a low level for the rotation of the fulcrum pin and figure body in either direction, said housing being suspended from its upper side and the figure body depending from the housing.

7. A toy comprising a housing, a fulcrum pin journaled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to the fulcrum pin exteriorly of the housing, a fulcrum naled in a wall of the housing, a figure body secured to the fulcrum pin exteriorly of the housing, a fulcrum member journaled in the housing, a driveconnection between the fulcrum member and fulcrum pin, a swing body of elongated form attached at one end to the fol? crum member and adapted when the housing is tilted to swing around the fulcrum member and by such move-' ments constitute the sole power' source for operating the figure body, the outer end of the swing body being of greater weight than the inner end attached to the fulcrum member to increase the speed of rotation of the fulcrum member and figure body when the housing is tilted."

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,912 Boettcher Sept. 24, 1895 1,280,508 McHenry Oct. 1, 1918 2,598,019 Rosenthal et a1. May 27, 1952 2,828,562 7 Warren Apr. 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 20, 1935 

7. A TOY COMPRISING A HOUSING, A FULCRUM PIN JOURNALED IN A WALL OF THE HOUSING, A FIGURE BODY SECURED TO THE FULCRUM PIN EXTERIORLY OF THE HOUSING, A FULCRUM MEMBER JOURNALED IN THE HOUSING, A DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FULCRUM MEMBER AND FULCRUM PIN, A SWING BODY OF ELONGATED FORM ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE FULCRUM MEMBER AND ADAPTED WHEN THE HOUSING IS TILTED TO SWING AROUND THE FULCRUM MEMBER AND BY SUCH MOVEMENTS CONSTITUTE THE SOLE POWER SOURCE FOR OPERATING THE FIGURE BODY. 